New Build Designed to owners’ specifications and built by Blue Cove Homes
Design This building was completed in April 2009. With a low ecological footprint designed to retain as much native vegetation as possible, the simple single-story 3 bedroom/2 bathroom home features zoned living with a large open plan kitchen/dining/ living area situated on the north side to take advantage of winter sunshine, bedrooms situated on the south, and wet areas on the east. All sides of the house have eaves with those on the north side being wider to protect windows from the summer sun. In the living area large sliding doors take advantage of cross-ventilation, with 2 clerestory windows providing an outlet for heat in summer, whilst catching the winter sunlight. Due to budget constraints, the house is still a work in progress! Stage 1 is now complete and is outlined below. Stage 2 is being implemented progressively and is outlined at the end of this document.
Materials As the home is in an area of high fire-risk, non-combustible external cladding was chosen to comply with council regulations. These include Colorbond (light colour on rooftop to repel heat), rendered foam board, and fibre cement to the base of the building. Floors to the living area are solid timber (plantation Vic Ash) on insulated particle board. Bedrooms are carpeted and bathroom/laundry/WC are tiled.
Insulation Ceiling: R3.5 Glass Wool Batts Walls: R1.3 Thermotuff Wall Wrap and R2.0 Glass Wool Batts Floor: Foil Board
Glazing E-glass to living area
Power 100% green power Low voltage lighting throughout Solar light to shed
Water Solar Heat Pump hot water 2500lt polyethylene plastic rainwater tank plumbed to cisterns
Garden The garden is in the early stages of planting but the basic bones are there:
§ Indigenous or food-producing plants
§ No areas of lawn
§ Permeable driveway
§ Two chooks do a good job of turning compost into eggs and will assist with the future-planned veggie patch.
PHASE 2 Phase 2 plans include:
§ Solar panels
§ 2nd water tank
§ Veggie patch with accompanying grey water system
§ External awnings to west windows § Installation of Clear Comfort Insulation to windows without e-glass
Links Blue Cove Homes http://www.bluecovehomes.com.au/
Quantum Solar Heat Pump http://www.quantumenergy.com.au/
Clear Comfort Intelligent Insulation (retro-fit window insulation) http://www.clearcomfort.com.au/window_insulation.htm
Sunscreen internal roller blinds and awnings www.iseekblinds.com.au/
(August 2009) (
